Anderson Silva's Former Coach Killed Due To Gang Violence After Case Of Mistaken Identity

MMA coach and former fighter Diego Braga passed away this week. Braga was the victim of organised criminal activity in Rio de Janeiro.

From 2003 to 2014, Braga was an active professional fighter. He collided with a variety of well-known combatants, including former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira. 

As a trainer, Braga is best known for his work with the legendary Anderson Silva during his lengthy reign as UFC Middleweight Champion from 2006 all the way to 2013. 

Braga is survived by his son, Gabriel Braga, who currently competes in the PFL as a featherweight with a 12-1 record. The pair worked together for the younger Braga's fights, with him making it all the way to the featherweight finals last year. 

Along with coaching professional fighters, Braga also worked extensively as a coach for children from underprivileged backgrounds in Brazil, and was the team leader of Tropa Thai.

Police Arrest Suspect Involved In Diego Braga's Murder

Braga reportedly encountered a dangerous crowd when he went searching for his motor bike, which had been stolen from him over the weekend. Setting foot into a favela where he believed it was located, Braga ran afoul of the Comando Vermelho gang. 

The crew are believed to have mistaken Braga for a figure in a rival gang. This unfortunate misunderstanding ultimately lead to the MMA coach's murder.

Earlier today, Brazilian police arrested an 18-year-old suspect believed to have been involved in the killing. The suspect was reportedly quick to confirm he was involved in Braga's homicide. The suspect - identified as Tauã da Silva - has since claimed that Braga was killed after gang members discovered he had a few of their rivals in his phone contacts. 

Footage has since emerged of Braga locating his motorbike not long before tragedy struck.